But Huddersfield's prostitutes and sex workers are getting a vital helping hand to keep them safe.

Workers with the pioneering SWEET project are determined that the scores of women selling sex on the streets, in saunas and over the internet are not going to fall victim to violent attackers or even murderers.

The sickening serial killings in Suffolk - with one of the victims a former Huddersfield prostitute - have put those who sell sex into the limelight.

But Julia Plaine, project co-ordinator, believes a lot of good work is being done to safeguard the women working in Huddersfield

SWEET - Sex Worker Empowerment, Education and Training - was set up with Home Office cash in 2000.

It was set up to work with women selling sex on the streets of Huddersfield's red-light area, around Great Northern Street and Alder Street.

Now the project works over a much wider area, covering red-light areas in Batley and Ravensthorpe as well as Huddersfield.

Over the past two years, 302 women have been contacted by the project.

An average night in Huddersfield will see their outreach workers speak to up to 25 girls.

The emphasis has switched, with many women working in the sex trade in saunas and in chat rooms on the internet.

But it is the women who work the streets who are most at risk.

Ms Plaine said: "We have an Outreach project where we target the most vulnerable.

"We go out at nights to work with these women, getting them to talk to us and building up trust.

"We are there to help them with their drug abuse, with their health needs and with advice on safer sex and safer drug use.

"The women have a trusting relationship with us. We are not the police but obviously we can be there to help them if they are subjected to violence, to rape or to hardship.

"We have helped them work with the police in the past.

"We also operate a 'Dodgy Punter' scheme, advising the girls about men who pose a risk.

"That message is being emphasised in the wake of what has happened in Suffolk.

"We are putting out fliers advising them about the scheme, about telling their friends when and where they are working, and warning that even if a punter is a regular customer he may not be safe.

"Most of the street girls have heroin or crack cocaine habits and sadly they are vulnerable.

"They are out of the system, with no doctor, no benefits, often no home and often subjected to violence at the hands of pimps and punters.

"They are often in a vicious circle, with chaotic lives.

"Yet they are also someone's daughters and are no less or more deserving of anything than anyone else."

Ms Plaine was at Bradford University with Barbara Leach - one of Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe's victims - and experienced at first hand the dread and fear that such a killing can bring.

It has made her perhaps more determined to help the sex workers.

And she hopes that the events in Suffolk may lead to a sensitive and not a sensational debate about selling sex.

"People talk about new laws regarding brothels, or toleration zones.

"We are also looking at a national database for the 'Dodgy Punter' scheme.